Human immunodeficiency virus-associated diarrhea and wasting in Zambia: selected risk factors and clinical associations

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1998 Jul;59(1):38-41. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1998.59.38.

Abstract

A significant association was observed among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive adult cases in Lusaka, Zambia compared with HIV-negative controls for chronic diarrhea (68% versus 22%; P < 0.05), weight loss (54% versus 30%; P < 0.05), lymphadenopathy (44% versus 15%; P < 0.05), and skin eruption (33% versus 7%; P < 0.05). Among the HIV-positive children, a higher proportion had clinical evidence of tuberculosis when compared with HIV-negative children (8% versus 1%; P < 0.05). The study demonstrated an association between weight loss in HIV-positive adults and children and chronic diarrhea (odds ratio [OR] = 12.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.4-25.5; P < 0.001), persistent cough (OR = 7.2, 95% CI = 2.9-14.5; P < 0.001), and an age of 31-45 years (OR = 3.8, 95% CI = 1.8-8.3; P < 0.01). The factors associated with mortality in HIV positive patients included chronic diarrhea (OR = 7.4, 95% CI = 1.6-34; P < 0.01), and lymphadenopathy (OR = 3.89, 95% CI = 1.2-12.2; P < 0.04).

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child, Preschool
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Cough / complications
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology*
  • Diarrhea / etiology
  • Female
  • HIV Antibodies / blood
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Wasting Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • HIV-1* / immunology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lymphatic Diseases / complications
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Odds Ratio
  • Protein-Energy Malnutrition / complications
  • Risk Factors
  • Skin Diseases / complications
  • Tuberculosis / complications
  • Weight Loss
  • Zambia / epidemiology

Substances

  • HIV Antibodies